Ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer

Catalog NumberHG-BULK25103746

CAS Number25103-74-6

CategoryPolymers

Molecular Weight

Mw ~28w

Appearance

Translucent viscoelastic material

Application

Scientific research and other applications

Storage

Keep in a cool, dark, and dry place

Specification

96% min

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Case Study

Ethylene-methyl Acrylate Copolymer as Impact Modifier for Polycarbonate Toughening

Bagotia, Nisha, et al. Rsc Advances 5.106 (2015): 87589-87597.

Ethylene-methyl acrylate (EMA) copolymer, composed of 70% ethylene and 30% methyl acrylate, serves as an effective rubber toughening agent that mitigates the intrinsic notch sensitivity of polycarbonate (PC) by absorbing impact energy through cavitation-induced shear yielding, enabling high-impact engineering applications.
Experimental Protocol: PC/EMA blends with EMA content from 1 to 30 wt% were prepared by melt blending using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder at 140-270 C and 150 rpm. Test specimens were fabricated by micro-injection molding at 250 C cylinder and 100 C mold temperature. Notched Izod impact strength was measured per ASTM D256, and tensile properties per ASTM D638 at 10 mm/min crosshead speed. Cryogenically fractured and etched surfaces were examined by SEM to assess EMA phase dispersion.
Performance Evaluation: The notched Izod impact strength of PC increased dramatically by 381% (4.81 times neat PC) with only 5 wt% EMA, while tensile strength decreased by just 10%. At 3 wt% EMA, impact strength rose by 366% with only 6% tensile strength loss. Higher EMA loadings (10-30 wt%) further elevated impact strength to 389-452% above neat PC, but at the cost of greater reductions in tensile strength (23-52%) and modulus (23-38%). Elongation at break rose from 10% to 243% as EMA increased from 1 to 30 wt%. SEM revealed a two-phase morphology with fine spherical EMA domains dispersed in PC; impact-fractured surfaces showed hemispherical bumps indicative of debonding and cavitation. DSC confirmed a single glass transition temperature decreasing with EMA addition and good Fox equation correlation at low EMA content (up to 5 wt%), indicating favorable miscibility.

Ethylene-methyl Acrylate Copolymer as Flame-Retarded Cable Jacketing Matrix with Colemanite Co-Filler

Cavodeau, Florian, et al. Polymer Degradation and Stability 144 (2017): 401-410.

Ethylene-methyl acrylate (EMA) copolymer (24 wt% methyl acrylate, MFI 0.5 g/10min) serves as a heat-resistant polymer matrix for flame-retardant cable jacketing composites, where colemanite, a natural hydrated calcium borate (2CaO 3B₂O₃ 5H₂O), acts as a co-filler that enhances fire retardancy through endothermic water release and high-temperature sintering into a cohesive ceramic barrier layer.
Experimental Protocol: EMA was compounded with aluminium hydroxide (ATH), magnesium hydroxide (MH), and colemanite (d₅₀ ~ 10 micron) at varying ratios using a twin-screw extruder at 160 C, followed by injection molding into sheets. Formulations evaluated included 40EMA/60A, 40EMA/30A/30C, 40EMA/60M, 40EMA/50M/10C, and 40EMA/30M/30C (A=ATH, M=MH, C=colemanite, all in wt%). Fire performance was assessed by cone calorimetry at 50 kW/m² irradiance, with additional characterization by TGA, XRD, SEM with in situ heating, and epiradiator self-extinguishing tests.
Performance Evaluation: Substituting half of the ATH with colemanite (40EMA/30A/30C) reduced the peak heat release rate (pHRR) from 237.2 to 201.0 kW/m² (15% decrease) and total heat release (THR) from 17.6 to 14.5 kJ/g, compared to 40EMA/60A. In EMA/MH composites, adding colemanite at just 10 wt% (40EMA/50M/10C) reduced pHRR from 188.7 to 167.8 kW/m² and THR from 19.7 to 12.2 kJ/g. The total smoke release decreased significantly with colemanite addition, from 705.3 to 406.6 m²/m² in EMA/ATH systems and from 1640.9 to 321.0-440.2 m²/m² in EMA/MH systems. SEM with in situ heating confirmed colemanite sintering to form a cohesive ceramic barrier above 600 C, mechanically reinforcing the protective residue.

• Molecular Weight: Mw ~28w
• Appearance: Translucent viscoelastic material
• Application: Scientific research and other applications
• Storage: Keep in a cool, dark, and dry place
• Specification: 96% min